Awe and Wonder Podcast: AAC & AT

S8 E8: AI Possibilities featuring Brad Smith

Brad is not just a Neuralink participant; he is currently the only nonverbal communicator among the eleven individuals implanted with this revolutionary brain-computer interface. Living with ALS, Brad has navigated life for years relying on various Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems. Join us as Brad shares his extraordinary journey, which is a powerful testament to resilience, adaptation, and the unwavering human desire to communicate.
Awe and Wonder AAC & AT Podcast https://specialedtechcenter.com/awe-and-wonder-s8/ Air Date: 11/19/25
 
Clock Hour Required Additional Viewing
Please note: You must watch the supplemental video linked below to qualify for clock hours. Nonverbal ALS Patient Uses Neuralink to Create & Narrate Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJn0WRKwg34

S8 E7: AI Possibilities featuring Elizabeth & Alyssa Reed, Trinity Rogers & Kate Oeser, & Josh Pedro

In this episode of the podcast, we bring together parents, an SLP, and incredible teenage AAC users to share how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing their world. We hear from three fantastic guests: Alyssa Reed (teenage AAC user) and her mother, Elizabeth Reed; Trinity Rogers (teenage AAC user) and her SLP, Katelyn Oeser; Josh Pedro, a dad whose daughter, Gena, also uses AAC. Tune in to discover the exciting, real-world applications of AI for teenagers who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), including how they are using it to: - Conquer Writing Assignments: Making schoolwork accessible and empowering. - Boost Social Fluency: Generating expanded sentences and quick, relevant responses for fast-paced social interactions. - Curate Vocabulary: Strategically selecting and adding essential words, including slang, to their communication devices. Most critically, we provide actionable advice for parents and professionals: How to effectively document and integrate AI tools and support into an AAC user's Individualized Education Program (IEP). Don't miss this blueprint for leveraging technology to unlock potential! Awe and Wonder AAC & AT Podcast Series 8: AI Possibilities https://specialedtechcenter.com/awe-and-wonder-s8/

S8 E6: AI Possibilities featuring Mai Ling Chan

In this episode we sit down with the incredible Mai Ling Chan, CCC-SLP, PMP, co-creator of AI for SLP Facebook group and a person dedicated to connecting and bridging relationships across the industry. We dive into critical updates on how to prompt AI effectively and safely as well as exploring the need to consider how people with disabilities want or don't want to use AI themselves. Tune in to hear Mai Ling's forward-thinking perspective on how technology and business can responsibly and effectively support the disability community.
Episode Resources: 
Exceptional Leaders Network: https://www.exceptionalleadersnetwork.com/ 
AI for the SLP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/597325123447725
ArSHA Conference 2026: https://www.arsha.org/convention/
Mai Ling Chan: https://www.mailingchan.com/about
 

S8 E5: AI Possibilities featuring Tracy Dabbs

Join us as we talk with Tracy Dabbs, Coordinator of Technology and Innovation for the Burlington-Edison School District in Washington State! If you're a teacher, SLP, or AT specialist, you'll want to grab your notebook. Tracy shares actionable advice and resources on how to effectively support students using AI. She even provides a direct link to her resource website filled with AI tools for educators. Don't miss this essential session on using AI to overcome barriers and achieve better student outcomes! Awe and Wonder AAC & AT Podcast https://specialedtechcenter.com/awe-and-wonder-podcast/
 
Episode Resources: AI and Inclusive Instruction- B-E UDL: Resource Bank - AI Tools and Instruction: https://sites.google.com/be.wednet.edu/b-ehs-udl-resource-bank/ai-tools-and-instruction

S8 E4: AI Possibilities featuring Samuel Sennott

Join us as we speak with Dr. Samuel Sennott, professor of special education at Portland State University and co-creator of the original Proloquo2Go AAC app. Dr. Sennott shares the inspiring story behind creating one of the most widely used Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools. He also dives into the future, discussing how AI could shift deeply ingrained attitude barriers toward AAC users, how it can support literacy and talks about specific apps and how they harness AI to support communication. Most profoundly, Dr. Sennott opens up about his personal journey with cancer and how becoming a patient dramatically reshaped his views on life, healthcare, and the participatory model of AAC.
Episode Resources:
AAC Peer Support Project Final Report https://www.ohsu.edu/sites/default/files/2025-05/AAC%20Peer%20Support%20Project%20Final%20Report%20and%20Appendices_revised%20compressed.pdf 
AAC and Artificial Intelligence. Sennott SC, Akagi L, Lee M, Rhodes A.
AAC and Artificial Intelligence (AI) - PMC
Supporting Individuals Who Use AAC: Breaking Down Opportunity Barriers: https://www.pluralpublishing.com/publications/supporting-individuals-who-use-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-breaking-down-opportunity-barriers?srsltid=AfmBOoorIDEMePZTn0WaASTh-om79hpLtxhArgmfM90aHBIe1wybUrBk 
Lateef McLoud: https://speaker.ussaac.org/speaker/lateef-mcleod-oakland-ca/ 
OKR TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/john_doerr_why_the_secret_to_success_is_setting_the_right

S8 E3: AI Possibilities featuring Sharon Redmon

Ready to integrate AI into your classroom but don't know where to start? Join us as educator Sharon Redmon offers a practical guide to using artificial intelligence. She shares how she uses ChatGPT to break down a research article and introduces a "4 C's" system for prompt creation. Sharon also discusses how AI can streamline the process of creating educational materials and highlights key guiding principles for its use, including putting the human first and prioritizing accessibility, especially for AAC users.
Episode Resources:
Beyond Text Leveling with AI (1 min video): https://youtu.be/d1VC-rjEoOs
Strategic AI Prompting to Modify and Customize Curriculum (13 min video): https://youtu.be/gThAp8GvEko
AI & AAC Article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07434618.2025.2495905 

S8 E2: AI Possibilities featuring Chris Gibbons

Tune into our latest episode as we sit down with Chris Gibbons, Senior Vice President of Clinical Education at Smartbox, for a fascinating discussion on the future of assistive technology and AI as an accelerant for learning. We dive into the transformative potential of AI applications in education and for individuals with disabilities, specifically focusing on how AI can enhance communication through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. This conversation explores the incredible opportunities AI presents while also highlighting the critical importance of user control, privacy, and ethical considerations in the development and implementation of these powerful new tools.
Episode Resources:
Brave New Words (book): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740806/brave-new-words-by-salman-khan/
Smartbox: https://thinksmartbox.com/
AI + Learning Differences: Designing a Future with No Boundaries: https://acceleratelearning.stanford.edu/app/uploads/2025/07/AI-Learning-Differences-Designing-a-Future-with-No-Boundaries_Final.pdf

S8 E1: AI Possibilities featuring Dr. Tracy Rackensperger

Tune in for a fascinating discussion with Dr. Tracy Rackensperger, a public service faculty member at the Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) User. Dr. Rackensperger is an expert in AAC, and in this episode, she discusses how AI is creating new opportunities for meaningful inclusion for students with disabilities. Learn about the importance of using critical thinking and editing skills when leveraging AI, and how these new technologies are opening the door to quicker communication for AAC users. You won't want to miss this insightful conversation on the intersection of AI, technology, and inclusion.
Awe and Wonder AAC & AT Podcast https://specialedtechcenter.com/awe-and-wonder-podcast/
Episode Resources:
RERC on AAC Webcasts & Instructional Modules: https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/
McNaughton, D., Rackensperger, T., & McLemore, L. (2025). Supporting meaningful participation in society by adults with developmental disabilities who need and use AAC: lived experiences, key research findings, and future directions. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 41(3), 250–263. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2504497
October is National Disability Employment and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness month! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXMhswc69Ng 

S7 E7: Early Intervention Featuring Erin Sheldon

Tune in to a conversation with Erin, an expert in literacy and language development and a strong advocate for inclusive schools and communities. As a mother of a now teenager with autism and Angelman syndrome, Erin brings firsthand experience to her work at AssistiveWare. We discuss her journey through early intervention and the special education system, and the AT supports that proved essential for her daughter.
Resources:
Proloquo Thinking Space: https://www.assistiveware.com/support/proloquo/basics/proloquo-thinking-space 
Angelman Syndrome: https://angelman.org/about-angelman-syndrome/ 
CVI: https://www.perkins.org/what-is-cvi/

S7 E6: Early Intervention Featuring Bridget Malpocker

Explore the impactful work of Bridget, an SLP at the University of Washington's Experimental Education Unit (EEU), an inclusive early childhood center. Learn how their transdisciplinary approach supports children (birth-kindergarten) with diverse communication needs through collaborative assessment, therapy, and teacher consultation. Bridget shares insights into fostering communication development and the power of teamwork in helping young learners thrive.
Resources:
UW Experimental Education Unit: https://haringcenter.org/eeu/ 
Haring Center for Inclusive Education: https://haringcenter.org/ 
Will AAC stop a person from learning to speak? https://www.assistiveware.com/learn-aac/roadblock-aac-will-stop-a-person-from-learning-to-speak 
Printable AAC Core Boards: https://saltillo.com/chatcorner/content/29 
Carrie Ebert, SLP https://www.instagram.com/cari.ebert.seminars/?hl=en 
Playspark https://www.instagram.com/play_spark/